Overview

• The Bulls’ four-year, $80 million offer sits $10 million per year below Giddey’s reported $30 million AAV demand, leaving the negotiation deadlocked.
• Restricted-free-agency rules and tight salary-cap conditions have deprived Giddey of meaningful external offer-sheet opportunities.
• Multiple Eastern Conference front offices—including the Warriors—have expressed tentative sign-and-trade interest but balked at engaging Chicago’s rigid terms.
• Absent an outside offer, Giddey could opt into his qualifying deal and become an unrestricted free agent next summer to increase his leverage.
• Bulls executives have publicly affirmed Giddey’s foundational role and hinted they may need to narrow the salary gap to secure his return.